As they walk towards their destination, each day the temperature drops a little further, and the sun sets earlier. The weather becomes noticeably harsher, almost by the hour. By now, similar clans of penguins approach from every direction to join in on the journey. Finally, often on the same day each year, and even at the same time, they arrive at the place where each and every one of them was born.

Here they mate in relative safety, they are now far from the waters edge where most predators lurk and the large ice walls will provide protection from their usual predators. The real reason they have chosen this place however lies under their feet, The ice is thicker here and stays solid until summer which will keep their young from falling through accidentally. Thus, having arrived, they begin to pursue their journeys purpose: to find a mate.

Scientists don’t really know what they are looking for in a partner; they only know that penguins do in-fact look for a certain something. They also know when the penguins have found it. Emperor penguins are monogamous, well sort of. They mate with one penguin a year, which means that next year all bets are off. Because there are fewer males than females, Hostility among the females is common. Moreover, because a taken male instantly becomes unavailable, females often attempt to interrupt courtships. The males don’t seem to mind this, they just wait for the fight to end, and take the opportunity to preen.

Within a few weeks, one way or the other, most of the animals have found who they are looking for. They mate. For the next eight months these two creatures will participate in an ancient and complicated affair. If their partnership is successful, there will be new life. For now, they wait for the egg and the brutal winter which will do everything in its power to destroy that egg.